Poll: So far this year, the work I receive has been: Trådens avsändare: ProZ.com Staff
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This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "So far this year, the work I receive has been:".
View the poll results »
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It has been as bumpy as ever: January was terrible (1/4th of last year), February was as good as last year, March announces positive (received a big project and have two more on the pipeline). It’s not business as usual anymore, but not definitely the announced catastrophe...
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Lieven Malaise
Belgien
Local time: 20:12
Medlem (2020)
Franska till Nederländska
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I chose "remaining steady" because it's rather close, but it's actually slightly better than last year at this point. And March took off really well with my schedule being as good as full for the next 2 weeks.
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Lieven Malaise
Belgien
Local time: 20:12
Medlem (2020)
Franska till Nederländska
+ ...
At this point (100 participants) 43% of the poll participants indicate a steady or increasing activity, with 15% being not sure yet. This is more or less in line with other polls from recent months and years about how translators are doing.
The least we can say is that translators that are still doing okay are heavily underrepresented in these forums. This makes me believe that bad news posts generate more bad news posts, which makes these forums basically toxic.
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roeland 
Nederländerna
Local time: 20:12
Medlem (2008)
Tyska till Nederländska
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| The year started beyond horrible | Mar 4 |
So far, the monthly orders are on the level of a single day before lunch. I don't think I will be around much longer.
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Lieven Malaise wrote:
At this point (100 participants) 43% of the poll participants indicate a steady or increasing activity, with 15% being not sure yet. This is more or less in line with other polls from recent months and years about how translators are doing.
The least we can say is that translators that are still doing okay are heavily underrepresented in these forums. This makes me believe that bad news posts generate more bad news posts, which makes these forums basically toxic.
43% with decreasing activity is pretty shocking really. In a healthy market I'd expect a very high proportion to report 'steady' activity - because most established translators would be working at capacity most of the time.
It does show that things are not universally disastrous, which is heartening.
Of course, people responding to polls and posting in forums are not a randomly selected group so we can't really draw any reliable conclusions from either of these. People doing well are probably busy working and don't have time to contribute. On the other hand, we know that translators have already left the industry due to lack of work and most of those probably aren't here either.
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Lieven Malaise
Belgien
Local time: 20:12
Medlem (2020)
Franska till Nederländska
+ ...
Rachel Waddington wrote:
43% with decreasing activity is pretty shocking really.
Not to me, honestly. At least not in an industry in which every single soul almost effortlessly can become a freelance translator and apparently does.
But it would be interesting to compare these figures with 10 years ago, but can we?
All I know is that one of the first things I read as a starting inhouse translator was an established translator complaining about the rates that were becoming unacceptably low... 25 years ago.
[Bijgewerkt op 2025-03-04 13:43 GMT]
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Mario Chávez
USA
Local time: 15:12
Medlem (2024)
Engelska till Spanska
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| Steady increase (with a caveat, read below) | Mar 4 |
Freelance translating has been a dying activity for me for years. That's why I have spent the last few years (since 2018) in in-house positions here on the Eastern Seaboard (USA).
A fellow translator and I were hired last November by a children's hospital and the amount of work is becoming insane. We're also wearing the temporary hats of project managers to some extent. We've been tasked with growing the team and we have our supervisors' support.
If I were working as a ... See more Freelance translating has been a dying activity for me for years. That's why I have spent the last few years (since 2018) in in-house positions here on the Eastern Seaboard (USA).
A fellow translator and I were hired last November by a children's hospital and the amount of work is becoming insane. We're also wearing the temporary hats of project managers to some extent. We've been tasked with growing the team and we have our supervisors' support.
If I were working as a self-employed translator with the amount of work I'm seeing day in and day out now, I wouldn't have time for polls. So, Rachel is right.
MC ▲ Collapse
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Lieven Malaise
Belgien
Local time: 20:12
Medlem (2020)
Franska till Nederländska
+ ...
I can perfectly imagine that a lot of translators couldn't care less about these forums, but saying that you wouldn't have time to contribute is like saying that you don't have time to go to the bathroom, which both would be signs of an unhealthy working environment. The concept of "breaks" is an important one in my working life and hopefully in everyone else's.
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IrinaN
USA
Local time: 14:12
Engelska till Ryska
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Lieven Malaise wrote:
At this point (100 participants) 43% of the poll participants indicate a steady or increasing activity
My vote could be deceiving since after AI/MTPE invasion I volunteered (haha) to give up commercial translation instead of adapting, but I remain very busy with interpretation - on average, 100 hours/month split into two 10-hour/shift weekly rotations and alternating 2 weeks off as my line of work, night owl schedule and age require more rest, recovery and leisure time. Occasional small pickings in between, like telecons, cover a bill or two and cat supplies:-).
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gareth stonier
Spanien
Local time: 20:12
Medlem (2012)
Spanska till Engelska
| Very slow in Spanish to English combination | Mar 7 |
I took a couple of years off with paternity leave and started back mid Feb 2025 and renewed my paid for proz membership. I also contacted all the agencies I have worked for over the years.
I have been surprised at how few jobs are now being advertised on proz compared to 2 or 3 years ago. A colleague said that AI / MTPE may be to blame.
I dont know if other translators are finding a great deal less jobs advertised on proz?
Thanks.
Gareth S.
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